Bring It On! The guide to increasing your Challenge Level.
By
Jim_G,
Posted on: 2009-08-20 15:12 in Player Guides
Thanks for the guide. You might consider a graphic as a way of making the "branches" easier to understand.
Did you know that the next issue is changing how the Difficulty settings work?
http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Issue_16...iculty_Options
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Let me preface this by saying that this is my very first guide, so I apologize if it's not quite all it could be. Feel free to ask questions if you'd like some more info or clarification on certain points.
I've discovered that many players, old and new alike, are nervous about running missions above Challenge Level 1 (Heroic/Villainous). There is a belief that higher challenge levels means you will die more frequently and rack up debt, and that they may make the game "too difficult". I'm here to tell you that ANYONE can run on the toughest challenge ratings of the game and do great! Higher CLs are nothing to be afraid of! You don't need Mad Skillz or be slotted out with ultra-rares to be effective. With standard enhancements, a handful of inspirations, and a little pluck, you'll be running the toughest missions with the best of them!
If you've ever toyed with the idea of increasing your difficulty, but were afraid to or unsure what to change it to, then this might just help you take the plunge!
I like to encourage people to try and break out of their comfort zone in CL 1 little by little for several reasons.
First, the obvious is that higher levels often yield better rewards of all kinds: XP, Infamy/Influence, Drops... all can be enhanced by bumping up the difficulty a bit.
Second, it will also help you to become a better player. If you can handle a large +2 spawn by yourself, imagine what you can do on that eight man team! You'll learn to use every resource and power at your disposal and creative ways of tackling difficult situations.
Third, in some cases, a higher difficulty is actually easier than a lower difficulty (such as for Brutes who need longer fights to build fury). I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but I had the hardest time with my SS/Invuln brute UNTIL I put him on CL5!
And finally, because it's so much fun! Once you learn to take those risks, and readjust your comfort zone upwards on the difficulty scale, you'll wonder how you ever managed to enjoy beating up only 3 enemies who conn'ed white. You'll scan over a spawn and snort in derision that there's nothing purple in it. You'll amaze onlookers as you street sweep 10 mob spawns that are one or more levels higher than you without breaking a sweat. You'll be SUPER-Powered!
Lets start by understanding the current Challenge Ratings. When the Difficulty Slider comes out in I-16, understanding this will help you to use it as well.
Challenge Level 1 (Villainous/Heroic): We start there as a brand new Superpowered being. It's the standard setting all the other settings are compared to. Mobs con at +0 to +1 of your level on this setting and the number in a single spawn scale for the size of your team. AVs are downgraded to EBs on teams of 5 or less, and Bosses spawn as Lieutenants when solo
The other challenge levels can be compared to CL1 to determine how they modify the challenge for you.
The next thing is to really understand that CL2 isn't necessarily easier than CL3.
It's really easier to think of it as two branches above CL1: CL2 + CL4 in one branch and CL3 + CL5 in the other. The differences between these two branches is Spawn Size vs. Mob Level.
Branch One: Spawn Size
In this branch, you will face a larger number of foes.
Challenge Level 2 (Malicious/Tenacious): You will face as many foes as if your team was 1 person larger than it currently is. They will con the same as CL1, however (+0/+1). The other main difference is that AVs will only downgrade to EBs on a team of 4 or less members, and Bosses will not scale down.
Challenge Level 4 (Ruthless/Unyielding): Or as I call it "Malicious PLUS". This setting will see your team size still set to +1 person like Malicious, but foes will now spawn at difficulties as if you were one level higher (they will be +1/+2). AVs downgrade to EBs only on teams of 2 or less.
Branch Two: Mob Strength
Challenge Level 3 (Vicious/Rugged): This will scale normally for team size, but will spawn mobs as if you were one level higher (+1/+2). AVs downgrade to EBs on teams of 3 or less.
Challenge Level 5 (Relentless/Invincible): This keeps the "same team size" paradigm, but spawns mobs as if you were two levels higher (Mobs spawn at +2/+3). AVs are always AVs even solo.
What level should you pick, and when?
This is where it gets dicey and is somewhat based on playstyle, AT, powerset choices, and personal preference. I can, however offer a few guidelines.
Your First Bump: CL2 or CL3.
Where do I change my challenge level? If you've never done this before, you might not know especially if you're new to the game. There are NPCs in every zone that will help you with this. Field Analysts are the hero-side people to talk to while Villains will want to visit a Fortunata Fateweaver. They're clearly marked on your map and are typically in "safe" areas.
When to make the first bump up? There's two places you'll want to consider this:
First is probably somewhere around the mid-teens. At this point you probably have a fairly decent attack chain, you have Health if you're going the fitness route, if you're an MM you finally gotten a tier 2 pet. You're getting a handle on your character and getting confident.
Upside of boosting difficulty here: You'll push through those tough teens a bit faster.
Downside: You may run into endurance issues on some builds in the late teens.
If you find the mid-teens either still difficult, or if you try to increase your difficulty here and end up faceplanting all the time, then go back to CL1 for a little while longer. There's no shame in this. Some ATs and power sets bloom later than others and it's just not a realistic option for them prior to when they mature.
If you're not ready at your mid-teens to bump, either because you're sucking wind with endurance issues or because you don't have enough powers to fill out your attack chain yet, then the next spot would be the early 20s. I recommend level 22. Why level 22? You have Stamina and SOs. Your character is in the beginning of really maturing with both primary and secondary power sets. You'll really bloom in your 30s, but this is where you've cut your teeth and have learned your set well enough to fly out of the nest. This is the perfect time to take off the training wheels!
If you're still having trouble and can't go to CL2 or CL3 by 25, then something is wrong. Time to check your build and power choices! Check out the appropriate guide for your character's power set and AT in the forums, maybe solicit some advice for slotting, and make some adjustments!
Next, it's selecting your new Challenge Level! You'll want to feel out where you think your character shines while you're still on CL1. Are you master of single target damage? Do you grin when you see a few more mobs than normal? Can you AoE your way through just about anything? Are you thrilled at the prospect of fighting the end boss? This will determine which "branch" of the Challenge Levels you'll want to pursue.
If you like being surrounded by alot of enemies to AoE or enslave with confuses, or just like BIG fights, etc, you'll want to select CL2.
If you like duking it out with the tough guys mano-a-mano, then select CL3.
If you're unsure, odds are you'll probably want to select CL3 for your first bump, as that is often easier for those who aren't sure what they're ultimately going to be an expert at. You may need to experiment, however, as everyone is different. Generally though, CL3 is rarely a bad choice for your first upgrade.
A word of warning, CL2 and 4, specificially, can be overwhelming for large teams, especially in PuGs. I'd advise to sticking to the odd challenge level settings (CL 1, 3, 5) when in a large team unless your team are all very good.
Your first mission on your new challenge level!
When you first bump up, this is NOT the time to invite everyone to a PuG and try out your new difficulty. This is a recipe for disaster and disappointment. Instead, it's best you either go it solo or bring one or two friends with you (at most). This first mission is going to be a little scary if you've never run on a higher difficulty before, so having a little support to boost your confidence is ok, but don't over do it. This is YOUR show!
The first time you look at that seemingly endless spawn or bright colored group of mobs may be intimidating. But don't worry! You're a SUPER Hero/Villain! You can handle them! Be confident! Review your powers, including the ones that have just sat in your tray unused before now because you never needed them. You may be calling on them today!
Make sure your inspiration tray is full! Keep some greens and purples on hand, and a few of whatever else you find useful for your build (breakfree, yellows, etc). If you're not feeling too confident, pop a purple. Do NOT be shy about using inspirations! You'll get more throughout the mission and can combine ones you don't want into something you need on the fly. Using inspirations does not mean you're cheating or that you're weak or a bad player. They're part of the game and are meant to be used! The best players always stock themselves with the best inspirations!
Review your temp powers for an extra "oomph" if you get in trouble. You probably won't need them, but it's nice to have an ace up your sleeve (in at least one case, literally!)
Now it's time. Jump in there! Don't be shy! You have nothing to fear. Nothing at all! Smile grimly and show them why they're making a mistake messing with you! Attitude COUNTS!
It may be a hard fight. You've never had to face this kind of opposition on CL1, so it'll be a new experience. But just like when you learned to face enemies as a new player, you'll quickly find your footing. You'll figure out how to deal with tougher spawns. If you're a brute, you'll find that your fury is building so much faster than it ever did before. If you're a dominator, you'll find domination coming up so much more often. You'll find your inherent powers making a bigger difference across the board. You'll surprise yourself. You might die once or twice. This IS new for you. Don't get discouraged. Swallow inspirations as needed and with abandon. By the end of your first mission, you'll already have a better grasp on both your powers available to you and how to handle those tougher spawns. You're on your way. Just two or three more missions and you'll never look back!
The Second Bump. CL4 or CL5.
Now that you're comfortable with your new challenge level, you might be eyeing bumping your difficulty again. If not, you eventually should be!
Normally, I make my second bump somewhere in the late 20s to the early 30s. 28 is probably a good benchmark for the low end, with 35 being the high end, with a level or two variance either way for different ATs and builds. If you're not able to run on CL4 or 5 by level 38, you've again gone down the wrong path somewhere with your build and should give it another peek.
Which level to pick? This, again, depends on playstyle, powersets, and the like, but I find that I enjoy CL4 for soloing (or small teams 3 or less) and CL5 for big teams (4 or more). Like CL2, Challenge Level 4 can be difficult for large PuGs. I'd only team on CL4 if you have a truly awesome team. However, on some ATs or builds, I prefer CL5 for solo (such as with Stalkers, who excel at single target damage). By this time you're familiar enough with your playstyle and powerset that you should know what you prefer: tougher mobs or more mobs, but here's a rough guide:
Single Target Damage Dealers (Stalkers, Scrappers, non-AOE brutes, etc): go with CL 5. You want to learn to beat down the big dogs, solo AVs and EBs and not muck around with tons of smaller mobs swarming you.
AoE Specialists and Controlling ATs (Dominators, Nuker Corruptors/Blasters, AOE Brutes, etc): choose CL4. You want to really maximize your AoEs and group controls. You shine when in the thick of a large number of enemies. You'll also appreciate learning to control and juggle large crowds, which will increase your effectiveness on big teams.
The Team Leader: If you team alot, you'll want to stick with CL5 (if a high level, decent team) or maybe even a lower challenge level (such as CL3) if you run PuGs where the skill level varies alot. That said, I've run alot of PuGs on CL5 from 35 up without much trouble. You'll need to find where your comfort zone is on this, however. For Strike Forces and Trials with PuGs, I find I am most comfortable with CL3. It still provides a fun challenge, but is not so intimidating as to cause people to drop out of the team. Again, you will need to find your own comfort zone here.
A word about AE "Custom Critters": generally custom critters are more difficult than normal foes of the same level. If this means you'll want to lower your diff a bit in the AE compared to regular content will depend on how comfortable you are in your current challenge level. If you find that even on CL4 or 5 that you're in no serious danger and can pummel anything into dust, then the AE may add a refreshing new dimension to the game for your chosen CL. If you're just squeaking by on your difficulty still, you may want to lower it down a bit. I rarely lower my difficulty in the AE, but I've been playing at higher CLs since 2006, and experience IS the best teacher. Once more, I recommend experimenting. What's the worst that can happen? You aquire a little debt and need to go visit a field analyst/fortunata.
Summary: higher Challenge Levels are nothing to be afraid of. Anyone can run on the highest difficulties and be successful. Experiment with the difficulty levels at key points in your career, and find the ones that you're most comfortable with solo and in teams. Have a positive "I can do this!" attitude. Be a tough guy/gal! Running on Villainous is fine for n00bs, but you can do better! Pack inspirations, learn your powers, and believe in your own ability and you'll be mopping the floor with that EB or AV you never thought you could handle in no time, and really feel SUPER!